M 9
The rainfall for the year (81.485 inches) was slightly more than in 1916 (79.855 inches) and is rather above the average of the last decade.
POPULATION.
The distribution of population estimated to the middle of 1917 was as follows:-
Non-Chinese Civil Population, 13,500 Chinese Civil Population City of Victoria (including Peak) 280,700 Villages of Hongkong, 15,300 Kowloon (including New Kowloon), 77,200 New Territories (land), 89,900 Population afloat, 58,500 Total Chinese Population, 521,600 Total Civil Population, 535,100The population figures have been estimated by the usual method based on the natural increase, as shown by the census returns of 1906 and 1911, to which the number 10,000 has been added to allow of the influx of Chinese due to disturbances in the Kwongtung Province.
There is no means of estimating the number of Chinese in the Colony at any given time except by a census, and until a new census is taken the present estimated population figures must be considered to be quite unreliable and are in all probability much too low.
The civil population consists chiefly of male adults but owing to the disturbances in China during the last few years, which resulted in the immigration of refugees and their families, the proportion of females to males appears to be increasing.
The boat population numbered 58,500 and the registered boats belonging to the port and villages of Hongkong are as follows :-
Passenger boats, classes A and B, 1,114 Lighters, cargo and water boats, 1,759 Other boats, 13,068 Fish drying hulks, 60 Total, 16,001This gives an average of 3.66 persons per boat.
The licensed boats in the New Territories numbered 13,637.